Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] why so few cnc lathe conversions?

Hi,

I HAVE CNC'd my Sherline lathe, after having ran CNC on two Sherline
mills. Interesting change!

Possibly because there's not that much more automated work that a
hobbyist would want to do on the lathe then manual work?

I wanted steppers just so I wouldn't have to spin the handwheels. the
17" long bed is LONG! I also realized that I'd have the benefits of
digital readout of axis positions, like DRO.

I have now run a few programs. I can use the "history" of MDI to take a
diameter down, or face off a piece of stock. I cut tapers on some fancy
connecting rods and columns for my baby beam engine.

So YES, I find CNC on the lathe quite worthwhile! But greater gains to
CNC the mill.

Alan KM6VV


Harvey White wrote:

>
> On Fri, 09 Jan 2004 16:35:42 -0000, you wrote:
>
> >I am wondering why there are so few lathe conversions vs mills?
> >
> >I bought a frejoth 13x37 gearhead, with crashed threading gears... the
> >machine MIGHT have had 10 hours on it, before it was crashed.
> >
> >My plan it to stick some 360oz/in on the x, y, and y, and drive this
> >thing as a super tight lathe. The runout of the headstock is very
> >small, and I think I can do this for
> >
> >3x360 motors with encoders(250)
> >xxx? drive (200)
> >power supply , pc based? 50
> >cables and wiring, 200?
> >700 bucks, before gearing?
>
> I'm planning, eventually, to CNC a lathe. It might be as small as a
> unimat, and it might be as "large" as an HF 7x10 with a stretched bed.
> Got other stuff to do first.
>
> Harvey
>
> >
> >Speaking of gearing, do you guys make your own gear drives or buy
> >them? If buy them, where?
>
> Depends on the material. I can make worm drive units.
>
> H.
> >
> >Jeffe